Directory

220 CE

A pivotal year in Chinese history as the Han dynasty, which had ruled for over four centuries, formally came to an end when Emperor Xian abdicated, ushering in the Three Kingdoms period.

Geopolitics & Governance

  • Emperor Xian of Han abdicated the throne on November 25, and Cao Pi, son of the warlord Cao Cao, proclaimed himself the first emperor of the Wei dynasty, formally ending the Han dynasty after more than 400 years of rule.
  • The fall of the Han dynasty marked the beginning of the Three Kingdoms period, during which the kingdoms of Wei, Shu, and Wu divided China among themselves.
  • Cao Cao, the powerful chancellor and warlord who had effectively controlled the Han court for decades, had died earlier in the year on March 15, and his son Cao Pi moved swiftly to claim the imperial title.
  • In the Roman Empire, Emperor Elagabalus continued his controversial reign, which was marked by religious innovations and conflict with the Roman Senate.

Conflict & Security

  • Liu Bei, who controlled the southwestern territories of the former Han Empire, refused to recognize the Wei dynasty and would soon declare himself emperor of Shu Han, claiming to be the legitimate successor of the Han.
  • Sun Quan controlled the southeastern territories around the Yangtze River and would establish the Kingdom of Wu, completing the tripartite division of China.

Culture & Society

  • The end of the Han dynasty disrupted centuries of centralized Confucian governance and the system of official selection that had shaped Chinese statecraft.
  • The world population was approximately 257 million.

Climate & Environment

  • Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 278 parts per million, as later confirmed by ice core analysis.